Electric sign



M. B. BENSON May 2, 1933.

ELECTRIC S IGN Filed Feb. 5, 1950 INVENTOR MELVIN 5. BENSON W 2% 1;,r1442 A TTORNE n Patented May 2, I933 'B.: BENSON, OF JACKSONHEIGHTS,1NEW YORK ELECTRIC sreiq Application filed February 5, 1930.Serial No. 425,941.

' This invention relates to electricsigns.-

The object of the invention generally is an electric sigii which iscapable of efficient service through-"bothday and night and"particularly a'sig'n which is characterized by the clearness anddistinctness Of the charac ters or letters when ob served at angles aswell as from directly in front, by'its simplicity in construction and byitseconomy 10 in manufacture and maintenance. 'More specifically theinvention resides in a specially constructed and-correlated stencilledplate frame andgaseous lighting element.

The latter is iii-the form' of aflat flaskand 15 the desired gas, as forexample neon, contained therein being energized by suitable andsuitablypositioned electrodes and giving off light of the desired color,whilethe specially constructed frame is open and cor- 2 respondsgenerally-to the shape of meg-a ous lighting element and includes a slotfor the reception of oneor more of sa d gaseous lighting elements withplates stencilled with 30 openings of the stencilled plate. In the.

preferred embodiment the gaseous lighting elements and the stencilledplates are readily replaceable by similar elements and other platesrespectively.

indicated features of the invention and others whichwill hereinafterappear reference may be had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View moreor less diagrammatic of a signembodying my invention: V

Fig. 2is a sectional [View alongthe line -22 thereof; i l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of'one of the lighting elements, I

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified 50 form of lighting element.

said

For a better understanding of the above Y Referring to the drawing Ihave indicated my invention as embodied in a s gnincluding an'openrectangular frame unit 1, this unit MELVIN; B. BENSON, OF NEW YORK,iv."Y., Assieivoa, isY. MESNE jiissienimn'rs, Pro MELVIN B. BENSON,CORPORATION,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, AND. MELVIN l being preferably ofrectangularshape for convenience. in construction, assembly and mountingThis frame may be of sheet metal construction having the parts thereofformed and securcdtogether in any ordinary or suitable manner. The topof the frame is'providedwitha slotor slots for the accommodation ofstencilled plates 5 and 6 and the lighting element or elements 7 and inthe particular embodiment shown there is one commonslot for-all threeelements, The

side members of. the frame have three juxtaposed guide paths o orgrooves2, 3, 4 formed on one side thereof,- two of these guide paths only 2,etbeing disposed nearthe front and the back for thereceptionof'stencilled plates 5 and 6 and one, the intermediate path 3,being adapted toreceive the lighting elementor elements' 7 therein. Thelightingelements I7 'are'of'rectangular flask or pancake form andcontain any suitable li'ght'ing'gas, such'for example as neon or thelike, this gas of the required purity being introduced into the de-'vice in any suitable, or standard manner. These lighting elements orunits are, as indicated, of very shallow depth, as for examplethree-eighthsof an inch or smaller and while any suitable contour may beused Iprefer the substantially rectangular form indicated. Lightingelements of this construction may be practically constructed towithstand the I severe service conditions to which signs are subjectedand ,unifOrm lighting thereof throughout their width may be effected bysuitably constructing or positioning'the elecf trodes. In the particularembodiment shown inFigs. l'to 4 the electrodes are indicatedat S'therebeingtwo 'of such electrodes 8-for each end of the lighting unit-QTheseele trodes must, as indicated above, beproperly distributed alongthe flaskto'obtaintheuniform illumination throu 'houtthe element desired and I have showneaclifpair of electrodes 8 uniformly spaced [alongthe end of the element, as indicated. ith a lighting element 'l' wideand 9 long and approximately 7 deep it is important that at least two ofsuch distributing electrodes be employed at either end. These electrodesare indicated diagrammatically and it is understood that the usual andstandard practice is followed in both construction and dimensions. Inthe particular embodiment shown I have indicated two lighting elements 7which are disposed side by side in the intermediate slot or guide path 3of the frame, although, of course, one or more may be utilized dependingupon the capacity of the sign and the size of the lighting elements. Ifdesired an additional guide or centering means may be providedintermediatethe sides to center the innermost edges of the elements asthey are slid downwardly into position but ordinarily such intermediatecentering means is not necessary because no harm is done by the element7 engaging the stencilled plates. In some cases it may be desirable toplace the plates 5 and 6 and the elements 7 flat against each otherthroughout. Preferably the circuit is automatic-ally completed forlighting the lighting elements when they are inserted in position. Forthis purpose I have indicated diagrammatically a contact strip 9 on thebottom side upon which the lighting ele- V ments 7 rest with theexterior buttons or contact points 8 cngagingthe strip. A similar strip10 is carried by a cover 11 indicated in the embodiment shown as beinghinged to the frame, this contact strip 10 forming an electrical contactwith the upper exterior buttons or electrodes 8 of the lighting elementsin the normal or operating position. The contact strips 9 and 10 areconnectedwith the lead wires 9', 1-0 leading to a suitable connectingplug or similar device. The stencilled plates are preferably constructedof sheet metal. Each is stencilled out to convey the desired message orannouncement. The operation of the sign is clear from the abovedescription, the lighting elements having been inserted in position andthe stencilled plates of the desired stencilling having been inserted inposition the sign is ready for operation.

In Fi g. 5 I have shown a modified form of lighting element 13 whereinthe electrodes 14 are elongated and extend across the whole width orsubstantially the whole width of the device. In the particularembodiment shown these electrodes 14 are diagrammatically indicated asof ordinary wire, but it is understood that the character or dimensionsthereof shall be such as to give the desired low evaporation. Thisconstruction assures a uniform distribution of lighting throughout thedevice. 7

It is understood that with a view to uti1izing a glass wall as thin aspossible, it is desirable to form reinforcing bridgework throughout thelighting containers 7 and 13 as indicated diagrammatically at 16 inFigs. 3, 4, and 5. This bridgework may be formed by indenting one orboth sides of the container at opposite points so that the indentationsmeet to form the bridgework, or it may be formed in any other suitablemanner.

With this sign the letters are sharp, clear and distinct, not onlydirectly in front but also at large angles, there being no tendency forthe letters to merge or become confused. The lighting elements orsources of lighting are in very close proximity to the plates and theletters stand out through the stencilled openings like attenuatedtubular light sources. The sign is very compact and of small dimensions,even in the duplex construction indicated where both the front and backof the sign are utilized. Both the frame and the stencilled plate may beeconomically constructed and the lighting elements 7 need not be anymore expensive than the specially shaped letter tubes now 011 themarket. Both the lighting elements and the stencilled plates are readilyinterchangeable and in view of the rugger character of the light ingelements their life under ordinary circumstances and usage is very long.

I I claim? An electric sign including a frame, a plate on one sidestencilled in accordance with the message to be conveyed and a flat orflasklike gaseous electric lighting device disposed back of but closelyadjacent to said plate to illuminate the stencilled letters thereof, theframe being provided with two juxtaposed guide paths one back of theother for guiding and retaining the stencilled plate and the lightingdevice in a readily removable manner. V

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MELVIN B. BENSON.

